Sin is fun, but there is literally hell to pay. The cost of sin is never upfront. We always pay on the back side. There is nothing rational about sin. There is just such a gravitational pull towards it.
In this message we will talk about what sin is, what sin does, how to avoid it, and what to do when we fall into it. The reading for today is the infamous story of David and Bathsheba found in 2 Samuel 11-12.
Welcome to week 8 of our David study. Today’s reading is 2 Samuel 13.
Who is the mother to Amnon (2 Samuel 3:2)? Who is the mother to Absalom and Tamar (2 Samuel 3:2)? Who was first in line for the throne?
Amnon was the eldest son of David. His mother was Ahinoam of Jezreel. This made Amnon first in line for the throne after David died. Absalom and Tamar’s mother was Maacah who was a princess, the daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur. David had likely married Maacah to form a political alliance.
What is David’s response to Amnon’s misdeed (13:21)? What is missing about David’s response? How are the sins of the father visited upon his children?
It says that David was angry. However, David curiously takes no action. There is bitterness that rises up in David’s family and now David fails to address it. We can point back at the story of David and Bathsheba. David had committed a sexual sin. Now his son does the same. David likely felt guilty about his sin. He fails to confront his son on this matter. I wonder if he failed to confront his son because he did not want to look like a hypocrite.
When the prophet Nathan confronted David about David’s sin with Bathsheba, Nathan told a parable of a rich man who stole a poor man’s sheep. David demanded the rich man must pay the poor man with four sheep for his sin. What happens to David’s sheep (children) in this story?
David would have his daughter raped. His son Amnon would be murdered. Later on Absalom would be killed by Joab. David’s family is in crisis.
David was a great military leader and politician. Where is David’s leadership lacking
His leadership is lacking in his own family. There is a reason that the Apostle Paul says a leader should be the husband of but one wife. David had married many women. He might have been able to manage the kingdom brilliantly. But his family was an overwhelming task. David had taken on more than he could handle to be a good father and husband.
If you were David, how might you have responded differently?
I am not sure I can say I would have responded differently. I am not in David’s shoes. It is always easy to think we know how we would have responded in the situation before we get in the situation. I would like to believe that I would have been assertive and have properly disciplined my children.
When our children stumble, what is our role as parents?
Our role is to speak the truth in love. Our role is to properly discipline our children so that they learn responsibility and right from wrong. There is a temptation to become our children’s best friends. But we are not their best friends. We are their parents. We look to guide them and mentor them to be godly adults.
Galatians 6:7–8 (NLT) 7 Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. 8 Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit.
2 Samuel 13
Who is the mother to Amnon (2 Samuel 3:2)? Who is the mother to Absalom and Tamar (2 Samuel 3:2)? Who was first in line for the throne?
What is David’s response to Amnon’s misdeed (13:21)? What is missing about David’s response? How are the sins of the father visited upon his children?
When the prophet Nathan confronted David about David’s sin with Bathsheba, Nathan told a parable of a rich man who stole a poor man’s sheep. David demanded the rich man must pay the poor man with four sheep for his sin. What happens to David’s sheep (children) in this story?
David was a great military leader and politician. Where is David’s leadership lacking?
If you were David, how might you have responded differently?
When our children stumble, what is our role as parents?
2 Samuel 14
Whose best interest is Joab serving? Absalom? David? Himself (14:1-3)?
Even though the woman was deceptive towards David, why does avoid still concede (15:19-21)?
Why is the reconciliation between David and Absalom not a full reconciliation (14:23-24)? Why do you think David did not allow Absalom back into his house?
We might say that Absalom had to set a fire under Joab to get his attention (14:28-32). Why is it difficult to respond to the needs of others or for them to get our attention?
Do you have disputes in your family? How might you be a catalyst to bring restoration and reconciliation?
2 Samuel 15, Psalm 3
What is Absalom’s sin in verses 2 Samuel 15:1-3? What do you think led him to this sin? What did Absalom seek to serve by “helping” the people who came to him?
Why did Absalom wait four years until he made his play for the throne (15:7-10)?
Why do you think David did not realize what was happening until it was too late (15:13)?
As an official of the king, how might you have responded to David in this situation (15:15)? Would you have followed David into the wilderness? How would you characterize these officials’ response?
Why does David weep as he goes up the Mt of Olives (15:30)? Why does Jesus weep upon the Mt of Olives (see Luke 19:41-44)?
Why does this situation look so bleak (Psalm 3:1-2)?
Where does David express confidence in the conflict (3:3-4)?
When conflict arises, how do you respond? How would God have you respond?
2 Samuel 16-17
Who was Ziba (16:1; see 2 Samuel 9:1-13)? Mephibosheth?
What is Ziba’s motive in this story (16:1-4)?
Why is it easy to taunt, criticize, ridicule someone when they are down? Is it the godly response to gloat over someone else’s misfortune? How about the misfortune of our enemy?
Compare David’s response to Abashai (16:9-10) to that of Jesus’ response to Peter in the Garden of Gethsemane (John 18:10-11)?
Where did Ahithophel’s advice come from (16:23)? Why is Ahithophel’s advice confused (see 1 Corinthians 1:18-31)?
Why does Ahithophel commit suicide (17:23)? Does his reaction seem extreme?
Who do you seek advice from? Is it godly advice or worldly advice you are receiving? What will happen if you follow the right advice? What will happen if you follow the wrong advice? How do you determine between the right and the wrong advice?
2 Samuel 18-19
How does Absalom’s delay benefit David (18:1-3)?
Why did David order for Absalom’s life to be spared (18:5)?
What was the result of Absalom’s selfish play for the throne and lust for power (18:7,14-15)?
Why do you think Joab was able to so easily disregard David’s order not to kill Absalom and even reprimand David (18:14-15; 19:1-8)?
Why was David so shook up over Absalom’s death (18:33)?
Most of chapter 19 deals with the aftermath of Absalom’s revolt. Describe the relationship between justice and forgiveness. How are both practiced in this chapter?
As we explore the topic of sin this week, we come to our final reading in Hebrews 12.
What does verse 1 tell us to do with sin? How did sin entangle David? How does sin hinder or entangle us?
Let us throw it off. I don’t imagine a person simply tossing it aside, but throwing it as far as they can possibly throw it from them. Get rid of it so that it will never come back.
David allowed sin to entangle him. When he saw Bathsheba from his roof, he did not flee. But rather he embraced the thoughts of his mind.
Sin will get a hold of us. Thoughts will consume our mind to the point we can’t get it out of our mind. Overcoming sin is not something we can do on our own. We need the strength of the Holy Spirit to help us overcome.
How does verse 4 picture the struggle with sin?
It pictures the struggle with sin as an epic struggle. It is going to take great effort. It may even cost us our life. But we keep fighting. It is the hardest thing we will ever do.
Why is it good to be disciplined by the Lord (12:5-6)?
God disciplines those he loves. If the Lord’s discipline was absent in our lives, then we would question if he really loved us. A caring and loving parent is going to discipline their children. Otherwise they would be considered to be neglecting their duties.
Why is it when we endure hardship, we look for short-cuts and avoid God’s discipline (12:7)? What is the benefit to enduring (12:11)?
Discipline is difficult. It is not fun to go through. It is learning a lesson the hard way. But sometimes that is the only way to learn the lesson. We don’t want to do it that way, so we look for another simpler and easier way. We thrive on instant gratification. Discipline is something that is shunned.
But there is great benefit to enduring discipline. As it says in verse 11 there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way. I think it is John Maxwell who says you can play now and pay later or you can pay now and play later. Discipline results in freedom. A lack of discipline will ultimately end up in form of bondage.
What does God want for you (12:12-13)?
God wants for you to be strong. He wants you to succeed. He want life to go well for you. He wants life to the full. God wants you to succeed even more than you want to succeed yourself. That is a powerful thought when it comes to living in obedience and allowing ourselves to be disciplined by him.
Describe how sin is exchanging future blessings for instant gratification (12:16-17)?
Esau traded his birthright to Jacob for a single meal. Later when he wanted his father’s blessing he did not receive it. Sin will provide us temporary pleasure, but there are future consequences to endure. It is like paying on credit. We take the payment up front, but end up having to pay out later long after the initial gratification we received is long gone.
How does a “proper view” of God help us to resist temptation (12:28-29)?
Remembering who God is and what his place is will remind us that he knows so much better than we do. The pleasure we so often seek to attain through our sin does not come close to comparing to the pleasure God seeks to bring us through salvation. It is like fighting for scraps out in the back of the restaurant in the garbage while the owner wants to invite us in for an all you can eat steak dinner. You might need to wait a little bit to get in. But the meal inside will be so much better than what you could find outside.
Also, remembering that God is also our judge. He sees all. He knows all. There is nothing that goes unnoticed by him. We will give an account for all our actions and will pay for them or be rewarded for them.
We turn to the New Testament today. We have look at the impact of sin in the life of David, but Jesus has much to say about sin as well. Two places we will look are Matthew 5:17-37 and Matthew 18:1-9.
What is the consequence of violating God’s commands (5:19)?
Jesus says you will be called least in the Kingdom of Heaven. Violating God’s commands will not jeopardize your salvation. You are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. But there is still reward for obedience and consequences for disobedience.
What does Jesus say about being angry with another person (5:22)
It says you will be subject to judgment. It puts you in danger of the fires of hell.
What does Jesus say constitutes adultery (5:28)?
It says to look lustfully at another woman is to commit adultery. We can imply it also applies towards women looking at men as well.
What steps should be take to avoid sin (5:29-30, 18:8-9)? Do think Jesus is talking literally or figuratively here?
Jesus uses what is call hyperbole for emphasis here. But he is not really exaggerating here. Sin is serious business. Sin reaps heavy consequences in our lives. We should not take sin lightly. We typically blow sin off. We know Jesus died for us. We say thank you Jesus and then we move on without much thought. But do not take Jesus’ forgiveness for granted and do not disregard the serious consequences sin will bring into your lie. It will devastate your life if you overlook it.
Is your attitude toward sin – “how much can I get away with?” or “avoid it at all cost?” What is the godly response? Why would “how much can I get away with?” be considered playing with fire?
Too often our attitude is about what we can get away. We try to push the limits. We look to see how far we can bend without breaking. But this is not he attitude God desires. It should not be how much we can get away with in our life. It should rather be about how much we can honor him with our life. If our faith is right and our attitude is right, then our desire will be to have nothing to do with sin and to avoid any potentially compromising situations.
There are times when life is so hard. You feel down and depressed. You are overwhelmed and frustrated. There is not much happening that makes you very happy. All you can see is the bad. You don’t feel much like thanking God. Sure you recognize a few blessings here and there. You try to think good thoughts. You try to look at the bright side. You want to see the cup half full. This human effort to make yourself feel better works for a short time, but eventually you end up back in the same place. Reality hits you in the face and you find yourself imagining that dark future.
It is like aprison you cannot escape. If you have ever seen the movie Groundhog Day, you feel like Bill Murray living the same day over and over. You want so desperately for things to change. Things to get better. You want something you can celebrate, but all you find is another dead end. It is the same story lived over and over.
You long to go to that place you can escape these frustrations. You try to distract yourself with television or the internet. You try to numb your mind with alcohol, drugs, or sexual promiscuity. But none of that does much good. Your problems are still there. Nothing has made them go away. The things you have tried have only compounded the burden you bear.
You open up your Bible. You try to loose yourself in the Scripture. But your mind is spinning so fast. You are so distracted and off somewhere else. The Word may be present before you, but you are not present in the Word.
Then you are told, “worship the Lord.” You think to yourself, “I don’t feel much like worshipping the Lord or anything.” Your heart is so heavy. You feel your life is collapsing around you. You feel you sinking more and more into a pit you cannot climb out of. Worship? Are you serious?
Yep! Worship! Sing! Praise him! Your heart may not be into it, but that doesn’t matter. Keep singing a song of praise to God.
How great is our God!
Great is his faithfulness!
True are his promises!
Blessed be his name!
Amazing Grace!
Hallelujah!
Even though you may not feel very confident in this moment, speak confidence unto the Lord. Give it voice. Make it know that the Lord is on your side. Tell your despair of how nothing in all creation can separate you from his love.
You might think to yourself, “what good is that going to do? It seems like foolishness.” You might feel like a hypocrite. You have these feelings of despair in your heart and at the same time you are praising God for his victory and triumph over your burdens. It does not make sense.
As we have studied the life of David we learn he was a passionate worshipper of the Lord. Yet, there are many times David was not in a good place. He was on the run from Saul. He was deserted by many of his so-called friends. There were times when his family was in turmoil. His own son, Absalom, tried to murder him. Many of the Psalms express David’s despair and sense of hopelessness.
In Psalm 22 David cries out, “my God, my God, why have you foresaken me.” These words would later be echoed by Jesus on the cross. In so many ways this is a depressing Psalm. But we find hope in verse 3. Psalm 22:3 says, “God is enthroned on the praises of Isreal.” Essentially what this means is that when you are worshipping and praising God, that God is present in the words that are said and sung. You may not feel like reading your Bible. You may not feel like praying. Then just start singing! God’s presence will come upon you. His presence will displace the doubt, the fear, the despair, the frustration, and the anxiety. God is your healer. If you’ve got nothing else, then start signing.
There is a story in the book of Acts (16:16-40) where Paul and Silas find themselves in prison. If there was anyone who ever had a right to a pity party it would be Paul in this moment. There is no hope. Both he and Silas had been severly beaten and whipped. Surely they were suffering from an intense physical and emotional pain. But of all the things they did, it says, “Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners where listening to them.” (16:25) In the very next verse the hand of God moved. An earthquake shakes the prison and prison doors flung wide open. Their entire circumstance was changed in a moment in such a miraculous way.
So what do you say? Let’s start singing. Let’s raise the roof. Let’s watch what God will do and free you from your prison. Believe, he is the Lord! He is able!
Psalm 51 is an incredible Psalm. It is a Psalm where David is so transparent. His sin against Bathsheba has been exposed. The only thing he can do now is come clean and he does. Here he asks for God’s forgiveness. He asks for God to restore him.
When celebrities and politicians get caught in sin, they are often sorry they got caught. They are not so much sorry for having sinned. But David is a breath of fresh air. In the words of these Psalms we can see that he is not just sorry he got caught, but that he is sorrowful over his sin.
What is mercy (51:1)?
Mercy is undeserved kindness. It is act of giving grace. It is allowing a person to live even though they deserve to die. It is canceling a debt a debtor cannot pay back. It is allowing a person to maintain their position even though their actions warrant removal. To give mercy is to treat someone better than their actions deserve.
When we sin, who are we ultimately rebelling against (51:4)?
We are rebelling against God. God has given us his commandments. Sin at the heart is doing what God has told us not to do. He is our creator and he did not create us to sin.
If I was to build a computer, but the computer did not do what I wanted it to do, it would not be a very useful computer. There would not be much purpose for it. I would either throw it away or tear it down and sell it for parts. In much the same way when we do not do what God created us to do, then we are an offense to him.
What does it mean to have a pure heart? A steadfast spirit (51:10)?
A pure heart is to have a right motive. It is do good simply for the purpose of doing good and serving the Lord. Sometimes we have an agenda. Our motives are not pure. We do “good” for self gain.
To have a steadfast spirit is to remain loyal and true. It is is being true to ourself and to God. It is about doing what we say we will do no matter how hard it might be. It is to not give up and stand strong in the face of temptation.
Why would David need to be worried about being cast from God’s presence (51:11)?
God is holy. He is righteous. He is without sin. God and sin do not mix. David had committed a great sin. When we sin, we are essentially telling God that we don’t care what he thinks or what he says. We are essentially saying, “God, I don’t need you. I think I can do better.”
What is the response to God’s healing and forgiveness (51:13-15)?
David says that he will teach others about God’s goodness. He will speak the truth to others who are engaged in sin, that they might turn from their ways. He says he will sing praise unto the Lord with his lips.
What does God desire of us when we fall to temptation (51:16-17)?
God knows there are times when we will stumble and fall. In these times, God desires for us to turn from our sin and to turn back to him. It is more than just saying, “God, I am sorry, I will not let that happen again.” It is taking a serious hard look at how we got ourselves in the situation in the first place and then doing everything in our power not to let it happen again.
At the same time, no amount of will power is going to keep us from sin and help us resist temptation. Ultimately, it goes back to God. God’s Holy Spirit living in us is the only way to overcome sin. The more and more he dwells in us the more and more we will be able to stand strong. So the more and the more we need to go to the places where we know he dwells, and go less and less to the places we know we are given to temptation.
David had committed the sin with Bathsheba. Now he is confronted with the sin. It is a sin he can no longer hide in the dark. The prophet Nathan comes to confront David. Nathan was the man David needed in the previous chapter to hold him accountable. Today’s readying is 2 Samuel 12.
Who is the poor man in Nathan’s story (12:1)? The rich man (12:1)
The poor man was Uriah. David was the rich man.
Why do you think Nathan used this story instead of telling David straight up he had sinned (12:1-4)?
The reason for using the story was to take David off of the defensive. It was to speak the truth in love. He did not want to condemn David, but for David to be convicted in his own heart.
Why is it easier to point out the sin of others than it is to see our own sin?
Jesus warns against pointing out the speck in another’s eye while failing to see the log that is in your own eye. We resist seeing the sin in ourselves. When we are able to point out the sin of others it will take the focus off of us.
What does Nathan say would be the consequence of David’s sin (12:10)?
He tells David that his family will live by the sword. After this event David’s family was faced with constant turmoil. David would have a daughter rapped and three sons killed.
Temptation does not set out to turn us into an enemy of God, but to forget about God. Not only does temptation cause us to forget about God, it also causes us to downplay the consequences of our sin. How do you see this in the story of David? In our culture? In your life?
One of the reasons we so easily engage in sin is because we fail to consider the consequences of our actions. When we watch television you rarely see the consequences of fornication and adultery. Everyone is usually having a good time. Sin has good “PR.” It has marketing genius. People buy into it, but fail to realize the full cost. We would not sin if we did not think we could get away with it.
Who is the second son born to David and Bathsheba (12:24)? Who would Solomon become?
Solomon was the second born. He would become king after David. He would build the temple in Jerusalem and was known for his magnificent wisdom.
God does not excuse the sin of David and Bathsheba, but how does God still use this for good?
God does not excuse the sin of David and Bathsheba. They would reap the consequences of their sin for the rest of their life. Yet, Solomon would come out of this relationship and ultimately Jesus would be born generations later. God would provide the salvation of the world. There is no greater example of God bring good out of something so bad.
This week we come to the infamous story of David and Bathsheba. This is a story that shows the humanness of David. He was a man after God’s own heart, and yet he is shown to be an adulterer and a murderer. There is such a contradiction in the life of David. He is a sinner. He is a saint. He is both at the same time.
The Apostle Paul would claim to be the chief of sinners (see 1 Timothy 1:15). Yet, there are few who might be considered more holy than Paul. How can this be?
The answer is not found in either David, Paul, or in us. The answer is found in God shown in Jesus Christ. He takes our sins upon the cross and removes them from us. We are saints not because of anything we have done, but because of what Jesus has done for us.
The story of Bathsheba is a story of hope for us. It reminds us that we are not saved by what we have done. If David can be considered righteous in God’s eyes, even though he was a murderer and adulter. God can make me righteous as well. Our reading is from 2 Samuel 11
Where should David have been (11:1)? Where was David instead (11:1)? What does this say about where temptation finds us?
The text says that this was a time when kings normally go out to war. David should have been with the army. Instead David was in Jerusalem at his palace. It also says that he was taking a nap in the afternoon. He had let his guard down. This is where we are usually confronted with temptation and least resistant to it. It is those times we put ourselves in places we should not be.
Who do you think is at fault in this story? David? Bathsheba? Both? When do you think the battle against temptation was lost for David?
It really is both. David certainly is at fault. But Bathsheba is not totally innocent in this affair either. She was taking a bath well aware that she could be seen from the roof of the royal palace.
It was lost when David looked twice. David looked down over the city and he noticed this beautiful woman. But he didn’t stop there. He then asked who she was. David should have turned as soon as he saw her. This was not a road that was going to be good to go down.
At this point in his life, who is David accountable to? What does this story tell you about having someone in your life to hold you accountable for your words and actions?
David is not accountable to anyone. He is the king. The servant tries to warn David telling David this woman is married. But David had a sense of invulnerability. He was the king. Who was going to stop him? He was going to do what he wanted to do.
This story points to the importance of having someone in our life who will hold us accountable. We need someone to be able to speak into our life when we get off course. If we don’t have that person in our life we will likely go down the same road David went down and find ourself in a world of hurt.
What should David have done when Bathsheba sent the message she was pregnant (11:5)? Do you want people to know about your sin? How do you keep your sin from being revealed to others? What is our motivation for concealing our sin?
It was then that David should have owned up to his sin. Yes, it was hard to do. But sin likes to hide in the dark. It loves to be covered up. Sin grows in the darkness. The longer it is swept under the rug, the more devastating its consequences will be.
We don’t want others to know about our sin. We try to cover it up. Sometimes it involves committing another sin so no one else knows. It might mean telling a lie. We think we can avoid the consequences of our sin or we try to delay the consequences. But the truth is that the consequences will catch up to us at some point in time.
List the people who get hurt because of David’s sin?
David, Bathsheba, Uriah, the other soldiers who died with Uriah, David’s son. Later on we will see some other delayed consequences of this sin and other people who are affected indirectly.
What advantage does Joab now have over David (11:14-25)?
Joab now knows David’s dirty little secret. He would certainly be able to use this against the king to his advantage. He would no doubt demand preferential treatment.
How do you think this story ends? A) happily ever after, B) the beginning of the end, C) all’s well that end well, D) a bump in the road. E) other?
The answer I give to this question is other. There were certainly consequences that resulted from this story. However, the grace of God is evident as well. King Solomon would be born to David and Bathsheba and it was King Solomon who would build the temple in Jerusalem. We are in no way going to condone the sin of David in this story, but God does work for the good of those who love him even in spite of David’s fall into sin.
David is known as a warrior, a king, a shepherd, and more. He was successful in almost everything he did. But of all the things David was known for, there might have been nothing more significant than the fact that he was a passionate worshipper of the Lord. And maybe the reason he was so successful in so many areas of his life was for this very reason. It all started with worship. David had his priorities straight.
In this message we look at David’s heart of worship and how that heart of worship might be cultivated in us. Our reading for today is from 2 Samuel 6:12-23.